Friday Fizz: LOUIS de SACY Brut Originel, Champagne, NV

The Place: The Louis Sacy winery and vineyards in Verzy in the Montagne de Reims in Champagne

The Story: A small but growing Champagne house spanning three generations (grandfather Andre Sacy, father Alain Sacy, and daughter Yael and son Jonathan Sacy) making high quality yet value priced wines from grapes they grow or purchase (no purchased wines). Brut Originel is their not-to-be-over-looked entry-level cuvee.

LOUIS de SACY Brut Originel, Champagne, NV ($28.99) Tech: 12% Alcohol. A blend of 55% Pinot Noir with 30% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier with about 15% reserve wines bottled, refermented, and aged 30 months en tirage before disgorgement and finished Brut. Gold-straw in color and fully sparkling; dry, medium-light-bodied with fresh acidity. A yeast-fruit-and-mineral nose gives way to a crisp, fresh palate featuring citrus and a bit of red fruit accented by toasty yeast and a flinty minerality. Fresh and focused, it is best suited to be served as an aperitif or with the lightest seafoods (perfect with raw oysters) or (my favorite) salty snacks such as popcorn or potato chips. With time in the glass, it layers in some richness and vinousity. BearScore: 91.